The council later also voted to refer to its Finance Committee an order from Councilor Daniel B. Bresnahan inviting Egan, who was city solicitor until resigning April 29, to attend a City Council meeting to discuss the issues related to her exit agreement.

Sullivan, Hayes & Quinn said in the June 27 letter to Mayor Alex B. Morse the firm was taking the "extraordinary" step of exercising its right to give notice of intent not to renew its agreement with the city because of harsh treatment it has received by the city.

"We are constrained to avoid the risk of dispatching any of our colleagues to possibly endure the proclivity of similar abuse and unfounded, public defamatory professional attacks unleashed merely because of the exercise of the highest professional ethics and competence on behalf of the citizens of Holyoke," Frederick L. Sullivan said in the firm's letter.

That's apparently a reference to councilors having criticized how the firm handled the case of Egan, whom Morse has said resigned for personal reasons.

Most of the criticism of councilors and others has been aimed at Morse for approving a $45,000 exit agreement for Egan but refusing to say why. Morse and lawyers with Sullivan, Hayes & Quinn have said why Egan was paid must remain confidential in order to respect her privacy rights under the law.

Councilors argued that taxpayers have a right to know why $45,000 of their money was paid to Egan in such an exit agreement.

They also criticized the firm for not including the City Council as among officials who received access to the privileged details related to the Egan case.

In the law firm's letter, Sullivan said the firm will continue to work on the two current cases it is handling for the city, but the firm suggested the city consider other law firms if additional cases that require outside counsel arise.

The firm also would be agreeable to ending its agreement with the city before the scheduled July 31, 2016 termination, he said.

"Again, we will diligently and ethically meet our professional obligations under the agreement due to expire in 2016 if the same is requested of us," Sullivan said.

The council received the letter with little discussion.

"What exactly does that mean? So now are we going out for (a request for proposals) for a new company?" Councilor at James M. Leahy said.

That's correct, but that step is the responsibility of the mayor and not the council, President Kevin A. Jourdain said.

"At this point, it's really out of our hands," Jourdain said.

Bresnahan said he filed the order to invite in Egan to give her the chance to address the issues that have arisen, given that Sullivan, Hayes & Quinn and Morse have had their own similar opportunities.